2009 Report
by Penny Lally

The Cornwall Club have had another great year, the highlight being the National Simmental Show at the Royal Cornwall Show where we proudly showed the rest of the country that even though we are out on a limb geographically we are seriously competitive and can hold our heads up high with the improving standard of our cattle.

We have a busy programme throughout the year starting off in JANUARY with our dinner. About 60 of us enjoyed a brilliant evening, including Robert Macgregor and Gordon Clark who were doing a ‘recce’ for the Scottish clubs’ forthcoming visit.

In MARCH we invited Bridget Borlase to give us a talk on her thriving and successful business. It was a fascinating insight into the hard work and dedication that Bridget and her family do on a daily basis all the time promoting Simmental beef to the consumer.

Also in MARCH we were invited to a quiz evening by the South Devon club. This was hilarious and, luckily, one or two members had functioning brains which carried the rest of us through to a victory.

APRIL saw a dozen members taking a boat trip to St Mawes where they enjoyed a pleasant and sociable lunch in the stunning scenery.

In MAY the Spring sale at Bristol was a great success particularly for David Nicholls whose only Simmental animal; CHYANHAL WELLINGTON made 2nd highest price at £4,600. Barry Wynter also did very well winning the younger section of the junior bull classes. Quite a few members purchased new animals.

In JUNE was the Royal Cornwall which hosted the National Simmental Show. The wonderful weather made a perfect backdrop for almost 100 Simmentals. The atmosphere was tremendous , the cattle were terrific quality with Boddingtons show team going on to amazing success during the season culminating in the Team of Five and the Burke Trophy, amongst other trophies, at the Royal Show. Our members were forward in large numbers competing alongside more famous herd names with equal enthusiasm. The Hawkey family doing particularly well with their team of super cattle. The Cornwall club, after much effort and organising, having raised over £7,000 worth of sponsorship, felt very proud of the show and enjoyed hosting the Scottish Club who joined us in the celebrations at the BBQ after judging. From Northern Ireland, Joe Wilson most ably judged, all afternoon, 12 classes of Simmentals and David Hazelton judged the Best Kept Lines. Thanks to the generous sponsorship all exhibitors had FREE breakfast each day, a FREE lunch on show day and a BBQ with superb Simmental steaks very kindly donated by Hayley Clark, Williams Simmentals of Norfolk. Around the judging ring were Presidents, past Presidents and many Simmental fans from all over the country. We wish to thank sincerely everyone who helped make the show such a spectacular success, to Claire and Fiona and all our generous sponsors for their invaluable help………good luck to Yorkshire in 2010.

Club members featured highly in 3 local shows . At Constantine Show the Olds family were well in the prize money including Champion and Reserve Champion Simmental with Sterling Noontimes Wanda and Bosahan Tresor. At Stithians The Haweys’ bull Sowena Tamar took the Championship with Bosahan Tresor reserve. At Camborne the Olds family took Champion and reserve with Bosahan Tresor and Bosahan Aramis. Well done all those others who also showed their animals to keep the Simmental flag flying.

Banwy T-Rex

Also in JULY the club took to the road in a bus to Somerset for a day trip. We met David Mills who took us to his friend Chris Downs’ racing stables. We were treated to a parade of up and coming youngsters in training. After a look around the immaculate yard we watched a couple of horses on the gallops, This was a most interesting visit and we were grateful to Chris for giving us some of his precious time and making us so welcome. Then we went to David and Chris Mills’ Wishful Farm where we were presented with ‘Pimms on the lawn’ (we know how to live !!) by Christina and her dad. David gave us a fascinating short talk on his involvement with Simmentals over the years and we looked at the Wishful cattle who were looking extremely well as always. When I had asked David if we could visit, he agreed and generously said “I will treat you to lunch at my local pub” Can you imagine his face when he met us in a LARGE coach (he was expecting 2 car loads !) Anyway David was true to his word and 24 of us had a lovely roast lunch at the Blackbird pub. (We are thinking there should be a plaque erected on the wall to commemorate this event !!) After lunch, and unfortunately in the rain, we went the short distance to David and Pauline Barker (Heywood) to see their cattle. We enjoyed seeing their Simmentals, a few Rubys and the occasional Charolais. David is always amazing to listen to with his terrific memory and knowledge of breeding. In spite of being soaked we had a lovely afternoon finished off wonderfully with a magnificent tea provided by Pauline.

Also in AUGUST we all descended on CROWGEY FARM, the home of Kevin and Tanya Thomas for a herd visit. We were made welcome and showed to the car park by their children then given a short introduction by Kevin to the Crowgey herd. The cattle were organised in different groups and looking pretty impressive. Kevin was a top Rugby player and is extremely competitive so is very keen to improve and win prizes. This was evident in his herd as they are really going places. We finished with a delicious tea having enjoyed a super day.

SEPTEMBER is the time when the Club goes on tour, this time to Southern Ireland. Peader Glennon (the Irish Club Secretary) suggested our itinerary and 30 of us set off from Exeter to Dublin .We went to the Curaheen, Clonagh,and Celtic herds, visited the National Stud and the Strokestown Calf show and went Greyhound racing all in 3 fun packed days. Fabulous.

SEPTEMBER also staged the long awaited Hockenhull Sale. This memorable and quite sad event marked the end of an era in the Simmental world. Cornish members were there and Kevin Thomas, The Olds and the Gummows all bought a bit of ‘ Simmental history’ to take home.

In OCTOBER, Rob Hewlett judged our Cornwall Herd Competition and I think was quite impressed with the cattle he saw. 13 herds took part. Many congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who entered.
The Winners were :-
Large herd and overall winner - Kevin Thomas Crowgey
Small herd - Barrie Wynter Bolankin
Youngstock - Piers Hawkey Sowenna
Bull (2009) - John & Bridget Olds Bosahan
Cow - Kevin Thomas Crowgey
Commercial - Andrew Badcock Trevessa

Also in OCTOBER the Autumn Sale at Bristol (shared with Angus). This proved to be another successful sale and the hopes are that these sales will continue to improve and the quality of the cattle remain high providing a much needed venue for excellent sales in England . All we need is breeders to support and then the buyers will know where to come to get good cattle.

In NOVEMBER we have our AGM where we will work out another packed schedule for 2010 In conclusion, I think we are a happy club and we enjoy each others company, as Club Chairman, I am so proud of our members. They are so keen to improve. They attend sales all over the country and buy in good stock having done their homework beforehand with available figures etc. The HAWKEY family deserve a special mention as they won a national award from EBLEX for most improved herd which is a huge achievement. They work so hard on difficult ground and deserve recognition for their efforts. Gill and Steve Gummow (helped by John and Bridget Olds) not only are ‘court jesters’ on our trips away keeping themselves and everyone else in fits of laughter, but have recently bought a decent bull at Perth which I am sure will help them go forward even further with their herd……. however…the price of chips may well be going up in St. Columb !!!!

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